It almost worked ✸ Apollo ¹

LI. Boyshit

The last thing Lydia wanted to do was blow up another school. But there she was Monday morning, the first week of June, sitting in Sally Jackson's car in front of Goode High School on East 81». Goode was this big brownstone building overlooking the East River. A bunch of BMWs and Lincoln Town Cars were parked out front.

But first, Lydia thought about why she was back with Percy and her friends again. She and Apollo had spent months with Dawn trying to figure out the whereabouts of Luke Castellan and Lydia Hale, but there was no use. So eventually the whole plan just blew to pieces. And Lydia found herself staying with Percy and Sally for the rest of the year.

"Just relax." Sally started to say. "It's only an orientation tour. And remember, you two, this is Paul's school. So try not to...you know."

"Destroy it?" Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Lydia looked at Percy, trying to let him know not to be so weird about the whole situation. She remembered feeling the exact same way when her own mother fell in love with a guy and had a new kid with him.  But Paul Blofis, Sally's boyfriend, was standing out front, greeting future ninth graders as they came up the steps. With his salt-and-pepper hair, denim clothes, and leather jacket, he looked like an actor, but he was just an English teacher.

He'd managed to convince Goode High School to accept Percy and Lydia for ninth grade, despite the fact that they'd  both gotten kicked out of every school they ever attended. Plus Lydia's own family lived at least four or five states away. But Sally made sure Allison Winslow didn't need to worry.

"It's not that bad." Lydia started fidgeting with her golden necklace "But what can we expect when we're on the most wanted list in Kronos's bar."

"I doubt they'd know about that bar. If it's even real." Percy laughed at the joke that was meant to add some relief, but he looked back at his mom "You haven't told him the truth about me, have you?"

Sally tapped her fingers nervously on the wheel. She was dressed up for a job interview—her best blue dress and high-heeled shoes. Lydia decided to continue looking through the window. While living with Percy and Sally, she was respectful enough not to say anything about conversations like these.

"I thought we should wait," she admitted.

"So we don't scare him away."

"I'm sure orientation will be fine, Percy, It's only one morning."

"Great," Percy mumbled. "I can get expelled before I start the school year."

"Think positive. Tomorrow you're off to camp! After orientation, you've got your date—"

"It's not a date!" Percy protested. "It's just Annabeth, Mom. Jeez!"

"She's coming all the way from camp to meet you."

"Well, yeah."

"You're going to the movies."

"Yeah."

"Just the two of you."

"Mom!"

She held up her hands in surrender, but Lydia could tell she was trying hard not to smile. "You two better get inside, dear. I'll see you both tonight."

Lydia got out of the car first, and she still was trying not to laugh. At least the ride here didn't end on a bad note. Percy sighed "Why were you so quiet? You could've had my back in there!"

But before Lydia could reply, Percy suddenly froze. He was staring over at the steps of the school. Paul Blofis was greeting a girl with frizzy red hair. She wore a maroon T-shirt and ratty jeans decorated with marker drawings. When she turned, Lydia caught a glimpse of her face.